In winter and the beginning of spring, infections and diseases abound, and ear infection is one of the most common infections that affect children and adults. In this article, we will show you how to treat ear infection in children and adults.
Treatment of otitis media in children and adults
In the event that you suffer from ear pain, hearing problems, and other symptoms of otitis media, you should visit a doctor to diagnose your condition and give you the appropriate treatment. In the following lines, we will show you how to treat otitis media in children and adults:
How to treat otitis media in children and adults
Treatment of otitis media in children and adults includes two important parts
1. Alleviation of symptoms
As people with ear infection usually suffer from severe ear pain, so painkillers are used to relieve this pain.
Paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other types of analgesics can be used as needed, according to the doctor''s orders.
2. Treat inflammation
In many cases, the ear infection may be viral, as the patient in this case will not need to use antibiotics, so before knowing the cause, the doctor may follow one of the following two options:
Observation without giving antibiotics
In some cases, doctors prefer to monitor the patient for 48-72 hours without giving antibiotics, and to start giving them only in cases where the patient does not improve or his condition deteriorates for the worse during this period.
If the patient improves, this means that the infection was viral and antibiotics will not affect it, and the patient will recover on his own.
This approach is usually used with children two years of age or older who suffer from mild symptoms, with the agreement of the doctor and parents.
Immediate start of giving antibiotics
There are groups that are advised to start giving antibiotics when they have an ear infection. These groups include adults and children under two years of age, according to the doctor’s orders. The choice of antibiotic is based on several factors, including:
Its effectiveness against causative bacteria.
Few or no side effects.
The possibility of scheduling doses in a convenient way.
suitable price.
Antibiotics used to treat otitis media in children and adults
Include
Amoxicillin alone or amoxicillin with clavulanic acid in people at high risk of amoxicillin resistance.
Certain drugs from the Cephalosporins family or macrolides in patients with penicillin allergy, depending on the type.
In the event that there is no improvement after 48-72 hours after using amoxicillin, other antibiotics mentioned above should be tried.
Duration of treatment for otitis media in children and adults
The doctor determines the appropriate duration of treatment, as it depends on the patient’s age, the type of treatment used, and other factors.
It should be noted that the specialist doctor is solely responsible for determining the appropriate treatment for the patient and determining the therapeutic doses in detail, according to the diagnosis of his health condition, and as long as the doctor has chosen a type of treatment, this means that the patient''s need for treatment outweighs the potential risks and side effects.
The specialist doctor can also give treatment or medications that are not mentioned, according to what he deems appropriate for the health condition.
Tips to avoid getting an ear infection
Ear infection may lead to serious complications if it is not treated, and as we mentioned earlier, children are more susceptible to ear infection than adults, so it is recommended to follow the following to avoid infection:
Avoid sending children to kindergarten.
Not using a pacifier.
Stay away from smoking.
Breastfeeding for at least six months.
Receive the appropriate vaccinations.
Information that may interest you about otitis media
Otitis media is an inflammation of the middle ear, which causes ear pain, hearing problems, loss of balance, and other symptoms. Children are usually more susceptible to it than adults.
It could be a bacterial infection, which is treated with antibiotics, or a viral infection that will clear up within two to three days.
